NEW HAMBURG: Eurocan Pet Products received $12,500 in federal funding to study how automation could help the maker of dog treats increase exports.
Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht announced the funding at the Eurocan plant on Victoria Street in New Hamburg.
“This is to help them analyze the potential of entering new export markets,” he said.
“That’s what it’s all about — helping small and medium-sized enterprises to enter new export markets, or expand existing export markets,” Albrecht said.
The money comes from the Smart Advanced Technologies Global Growth program, which is funded by the federal government and delivered by the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters association.
Since it was founded in 1989, Eurocan has continually increased its sales and the size of its workforce. The company exports 55 per cent of its products — dog bones, snacks and treats — to the United States and employs 43 people.
Eurocan is thinking about expanding exports to China and Japan.
With this funding, Albrecht said, “Eurocan Manufacturing will conduct an assessment that will identify and quantify the opportunity for new equipment and technology to support increased export demands.”
Last November, the federal government announced $20 million in funding for the Smart Advanced Technologies program to assist southern Ontario businesses with export-oriented projects.
“It is fine for us to go and sign free trade agreements, but if we don’t give small and medium-sized businesses the tools to access those markets, the trade agreements are meaningless,” Albrecht said.
Since 2006, the federal government has concluded free-trade agreements with 36 countries, bringing the total to 43. Ottawa earmarked $152 million for trade promotion investments aimed at the manufacturing sector.
“What is good for Canadian manufacturers is good for Canadians as they employ close to 1.7 million people across this country,” Albrecht said.
